The Palms Post

UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 6, 2024

WOW, this past week went so great! I can't remember a better start to a school year in my 20+ years as an educator! Palms is such a magical place, and I feel blessed to be part of it, as well as be part of such an amazing school district! Please see the information below as we have a lot that is upcoming next week, including a new FUN/COLOR RUN FUNDRAISER & A LATE START WEDNESDAY ON SEPTEMBER 11 (9:40am-3:39pm).

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 - LATE START (9:40am-3:39pm):

Please note that this coming Wednesday, September 11, is a "Late Start Wednesday."

• All bus routes will be 1 hour later than usual on these Wednesday's
• Please DO NOT DROP OFF until 9:30am (unless you have already signed up for Latchkey, which you must do a week in advance)
• There are also many “Late Start” Wednesdays due to Teacher PLC Professional Development mornings. Those dates are noted in the District Calendar.
• Our Palms times will be from 9:40am-3:39pm on those dates - SO PLEASE ADD THESE DATES/TIMES TO YOUR CALENDAR AT HOME!
• Here is the District Calendar Link and see the article below!

PALMS FUN/COLOR RUN:

We are very excited to bring a new fun opportunity, and PTO fundraiser, to Palms this year. We are sending home paperwork with students and we'll have a kickoff assembly on Friday, September 13, in the morning to officially kick-off the fundraiser! This is going to be a blast! Big "Thank You" to Mrs. Chelsey Genovich (parent) and Ms. Lauren Kenyon (Palms Office) for all their work in organizing this event for our kids! Any questions, please contact our office at 810-676-1352.

• Student Fundraising (Sept 13 - Sept 27)
• PALMS FUN/COLOR RUN happening on Friday, Sept 27 from 6:00-7:30pm at Palms

We're going to MAKE it a great year with our vision in mind to: Perform, Achieve, Lead, Master, Succeed. #BELIEVE

Mr. Mike Domagalski

Principal, Palms Elementary

Perform - Achieve - Lead - Master - Succeed

LATE STARTS: There are many “Late Start” Wednesday’s due to many 1-hour Teacher PLC Professional Development mornings. Those dates are noted in the District Calendar. Our Palms school times will be from 9:40am-3:39pm on those dates - SO PLEASE ADD THESE DATES/TIMES TO YOUR CALENDAR AT HOME!!! Other than Latchkey (planned at least a week in advance, 6:30am-9:40am), the school will not open until 9:40am on these dates. Please see the dates below!

• September 11, September 25, October 9, October 23, November 6, November 20, December 4, December 18
• January 8, January 22, February 5, February 19, March 5, March 19, April 2, April 16, April 30, May 14, May 28

Monday, September 9

• PTO Mums Sales go home to familes (I'm getting mine for the fall)

Tuesday, September 10

• Palms School Picture Day
• Mums sales start (PTO Fundraiser) - SPREAD THE WORD TO GET READY FOR THE FALL!

Wednesday, September 11

• Delayed Start Wednesday (PLC) - School starts at 9:40am

Friday, September 13

• Palms Fun/Color Run Kick-of Assembly for students (9am in the Gym) - Info coming home!

• MC vs SC Football game (7pm at East China Stadium)

Tuesday, September 17

• Constitution Day (9:00am at flagpole)
• Fire Drill #1 (9:15am)
• Try-It Tuesday at Lunch

Friday, September 20

• Fire Drill #2 (9:15am)

Wednesday, September 25

• PLC Late Start Meeting - School starts at 9:40am

Thursday, September 26

• Lockdown Drill #1 (9:15am)

Friday, September 27

• Palms Fun/Color Run (6:00-7:30pm) - PTO Fundraiser

It’s been a great start as a new group of kindergarteners! Kindergarten Camp was so much fun! We made new friends and are learning the routines of school! It's going to be an amazing Kindergarten year for our littles. What a great group!

At Open House, or on the 1st day of school, all students/families should have recieved the Palms "Parent Pack which contains the following:

• Emergency Information Form (all families must complete & return)
• Parent-Student-Teacher Compact (all families must sign & return)
• Technology Code of Conduct (all families must sign & return)
• Curriculum Department Textbook Agreement (all families must sign & return)
• Skyward Family Access User Agreement (all familes must return if new or haven't done it before)
• Education Benefits Form SY 2024/25: Free/Reduced Lunch (anyone can complete if qualified)
• Palms Elementary Student Directory (optional to be added to the directory)

IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY, PLEASE TURN IN THE MANDTORY PAPERWORK ABOVE. If you did not get this "Parent Pack," please call the Palms Office at 810-676-1351.

Parents,

If you are planning on having your child bused to and/or from school, you had to have contacted Transportation Department (810-676-1353). There are 4 buses assigned from Palms students. Below is the link for the up-to-date bus routes: https://www.eastchinaschools.org/o/ecsd/page/bus-routes

Parents/Guardians please double check your EMAIL ADDRESSES and PHONE NUMBERS in Skyward to ensure they are updated and accurate. Some teachers are getting emails kicked back. It's good to have everything updated; emails, any new cell phone numbers, etc...

ITo update this information, please simply call Mrs. Glasgow in the Palms Office at 810-676-1351 and she can update these for you. Thanks so much!

Palms Elementary Families,

We are looking for someone at Palms Elementary to help out with our Latchkey program as a caregiver!

Please see the information attached, and if you, or someone you know is interested, please apply on-line here: http://www.applitrack.com/eastchina/onlineapp/default.aspx?all=1

MEETINGS: 2024/25

• 3rd Thursday of each month: September 19, October 17, November 21, January 16, February 20, March 20, April 17, May 15.
• All meetings happen in the Media Center at Palms Elementary starting at 4:30pm.
• Child Care: The PTO works with the MCHS Student Government & NHS to have high school students available to watch younger children brought to a Palms PTO meeting.

President: Kelly Morrison, 586-873-5215, kmorrison1004@gmail.com

Vice-President: Orianne Myres, 810-278-1948, orianne84@gmail.com

Secretary: Robin St. Aubin, 586-822-8861, rstaubin615@gmail.com

Co-Treasurer: Shannon Perry, 313-570-2191, shannonmperry@hotmail.com

Co-Treasurer: Amye Kammer, 810-335-3097, aykammer@yahoo.com

PTO EMAIL ADDRESS: palmspto@gmail.com

PTO Facebook Page: "Palms Elementary PTO"

EVENTS PLANNED for 2024/25 - WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!!!!

• Fundraisers: Fall Fun Run (Sept), Mum Flowers (Sept/Oct), Candy Sales (Jan), Spring Flowers (Apr)
• Monster Mash - Friday, Oct 25 - 6:00-7:30pm
• Cosmic Bowling Event - Friday, November 8 (Time TBA)
• Staff Dinner for Conferences: Monday, November 25 - 4:00pm
• Christmas Craft Event for students - December 17, 2024
• Daddy Daughter Dance - February 21 (snow date February 28, 2025)
• Donuts with Grown-Ups - March 4 & March 5, 2025
• Mother-Son Event @ All-Star Sports - April 18, 2025
• Bus Driver, Latchkey & Custodial Breakfast - Tuesday, April 22, 2025
• Teacher Appreciation Day/Week: May 5-May 9, 2025
• 5th Grade Party - Monday, June 9 (2:00-3:30pm)
• Palms Field Day - Thursday, May 29 (rain date May 30)
• Music Concerts (1st, 3rd, 5th grades) - Monday, June 2, 2025

We love celebrating birthdays at Palms; however, we kindly ask that parents be aware of the policies at Palms when it comes to student birthdays.

• RECOGNITION: When a student has a birthday, they will be recognized during the morning announcements and given a birthday treat.
• TREATS/GIFTS: If parents would like to send in a birthday treat, we ask that the treat be pre-packaged, individual-packaged, and nut-free. Classroom supplies would be a great treat for the class as these are recommended as opposed to a food treat.
• TEACHERS: Parents should communicate with their child's teacher a week in advance on a birthday and agree on the appropriate treat/gift for the class.

ARRIVAL PROCEDURES

• DROPPING OFF: Out of consideration for others, when dropping off students, please pull to the front of the drop–off area and keep the line of traffic moving.
  
• Please have your child on the RIGHT SIDE of the car when dropping off. This makes it easier and quicker.
• When students are dropped off they are to line up and enter the building at the south entrance, door #1.
• Mrs. Woodhouse’s Young 5’s students will line up outside the door to Mrs. Woodhouse’s room, door #1A.
• The office staff will sign-in the students if they are not here when the bell rings. Building entrance bell rings at 8:40 a.m.
• Classes begin daily at 8:45 a.m. and dismiss at 3:39 p.m. Students should not arrive at school before 8:30 a.m.
• Latchkey is available to parents who need supervision for their children before this time.

DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

• PICK-UP: If you are picking your child up from school at dismissal time, grades K-5 will be dismissed out of the doors by the office, door #1. Parents will stay outside of the building during this time. If parents are a few minutes late picking up, students will stay inside the building to wait.
  
• If your student is leaving early for the day, please send a note with the student to let the office know. If you are picking up your student at the end of the day, they will meet you outside the doors at the south entrance (Door #1).
• The turn-around on the west side of the building (on Palms Rd.) will be for buses and staff parking only.
• Visitor parking will be located in the parking area on the south side of the building.
• As a matter of safety, DO NOT park along the sidewalk. This is a Fire Lane.

• If your child does need to be released from school during the instructional day, please notify the office in writing. Students will be called to the office when you arrive.
  

*****POLICY TO BE STRICTLY APPLIED*****

For the safety of your child and to avoid confusion, no child will be dismissed after 3:15pm on full days of school or after 11:50am on 1/2 days. Please wait outside to greet your child after school as this will ensure a positive and safe dismissal for all children.

Please be sure to check your child’s backpack for notes and homework assignments on a daily basis. We are looking forward to a very productive and exciting school year. Additional information is available in the ECSD Elementary Student Handbook.

School Attendance

• If your child is going to be absent, please call the Palms attendance line, 810-676-1366. It is important that your child is present and on time for school each day unless he/she has a fever or is sick.

Palms Elementary Links & Info

• Palms Elementary Website
• Cafeteria Menus
• Skyward Family Access - LOGIN
• Skyward Family Access - HELP
• Volunteer Application
• Regular School Day: 8:45am-3:39pm
• PLC Wednesdays: 9:45am-3:39pm
• Half Days of School: 8:45am-12:08pm
• Office Hours: 8:00am-4:00pm

East China School District Links & Info

• District Calendar Link
• ECSD Webpage
• Early Childhood & Daycare
• ECSD Employment Opportunities
• Latchkey Information
• East China Educational Foundation
• ECSD Calendar of Events

Please call the office at 810-676-1351 for any questions.

Email: lglasgow@ecsd.us
Website: https://eastchinaschools.org/schools/palms-elementary/
Location: 6101 Palms Road, Ira Township, MI, USA
Phone: (810) 676-1350